Heat exchange apparatus



, July 24, 1934. .1. F. METTEN HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2l,'1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QN 1 /N ww f NNI f 1 Y INN am 1 1 1 1 W11 1.11111|1111 11 \.\\1 111111111 1 1 111 i1 \\.H 111 1 ,1 1 11111 A Q 1, 1 .wmNm ///I 1 1 1 1 1111 11 1|111 mm NN sw E1 1 am Nw uw.

July 24, 1934. -.J. F. METTEN HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 21,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES MTENTol-"Flcla:A

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS John F. Metten,' Philadelphia, Pa.

Application `August y21, 1933, ASerial No. .686,101

' c claims. (C1. 257-239) .-This invention relates to heat exchangeapparatus such as may be used for feed water heaters, oil heaters andfor heating or cooling liquids and gases.

More particularly this invention relates to multipass heat exchangeapparatus of the hairpin or U tube type wherein the tubes are each bentto form two parallel legs with their free ends adapted to respectivelyreceive and discharge iiuids at one end of the apparatus. This U tubetype of multipass heater or cooler is of great advantage' where there isa progressive temperature gradient along each tube of a grouprepresenting a pass, and where there is a corresponding difference inlinear expansion of the group of tubes represented in each pass becauseit enables free and independent expansion for each of the U tubes. ,h

As constructed heretofore, the bent ends of the tubes are usuallysupported by passing through one or more supporting plates provided withholes, slightly larger in diameter than the outside diameter of thetubes, and corresponding in spacing to the spacing in the firstmentioned plate at the free ends of the tubes. Thr` holes in the bentend plate are enlarged slightly to permit expansion of the tubes.

The tubes are usually arranged in nested formation, that is, some tubeslie within others, and it has been found difficult to remove any of theinner system of tubes without'withdrawing the entire nest from theapparatus. Even after such removal, difficulty is encountered since thebent end plate must be moved close to the tube vsheet in order to spreadthe outer tubes suiciently. The moving of the plate against theresistance of warped tubes is difficult particularly if there is anyscale or deposit on the outside of the tubes.

In small sized heat exchange apparatus the vU type tube which can besupported by an open end plate alone has found great favor, and theprincipal objection to the use of this type of heat exchange apparatusin the larger sized units is the necessity of withdrawing of the entirenest of tubes from the apparatus and disassembling thereof in order toeffect the displacement of a single tube.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a support for thetubes so that any tube may be Withdrawn without removing the tube nestfrom the shell andwithout removing any of the other tubes.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel construction andarrangement of the bent end support for the tubes.

Fig. 2 is' a section of one end taken on the line 65 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinalsection with certain parts removed;

Fig. 4 is an end section taken on the line 4-4 7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with certain parts shown in section andother parts removed; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the vparts shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a shell 10 having flanges 11and 12 suitably secured thereto at each end thereof. The ange 12cornprises an angle member with its longitudinal leg extending beyondthe edge of the shell, and its transverse leg presenting a flange towhich is secured a removable cap 13. Inlet and exhaust passages 1.4 and15 are provided on opposite sides of the shell, for passing the heatingor cooling fluid therethrough. A plate 16 is adapted to be securedbetween the flange 11l and a removable head 1'7. This head is providedwith inlet and exhaust passages 18 and 19 for the passage of fluids, tobe heated or cooled, into U shaped tubes 20 having their free endsanchored in the plate 16. A suitable partition 20' separates the inletand exhaust passages 18 and 19 as well as the opposite ends of the tubesso that uid entering the port 18 is directed into the tubes,and uponexit therefrom is directed through the exhaust passage 19.

l The anchoring of the tubes 20 in the platek16 may be accomplished byexpanding theends of tubes in holes therein of such diameter as to gripthe ends of the tub'es frictionally or by any other Well known means.These .holes are suitably spaced to position the'tubes with respect toeach other. The tubes are arranged in parallel planes and are adapted tobe nested in each plane. As

shown in Fig.r 2 the tubes are staggered in alter- 105 nate planes forcompactnessfand it is to be understood that this is not essential. Thestaggering of the tubes lis done merely to provide equal spacingsurrounding the tubes, and, therefore, the

holes in the plate 16 are in hexagonal or honey- 11n comb formation. Theholes may, however, be arranged in square formation if desired.

In order to support the tubes at the bent ends there are providedhorizontal bars 21 adapted to span and to be suitably secured to thelongitudinal leg of the angle member 12. The horizontal supports areprovided under each row of the tube legs. Where space permits thehorizontal bars may be of angle bar section. The bars 21 maintain thetubes in horizontal alinement. In order to position the tubes in propervertical planes and to correspond with the holes in the plate 16 thereare provided removable spacer bars 22 which are adapted to lie obliquelyin the spaces provided between the legs of the tubes, and are adapted tolspan the space between the longitudinal leg of the member 12. It willbe noted that if the legs of the tubes were arranged in square formationthese spacer bars would be vertical. Or if any other formation of thetubes is made then the spacer bars may be arranged to suit the purposeintended.` 'I'hese spacer bars may even be bent if necessary.

The cap 13 is provided witha fiange 23 which is adapted to be removablysecured to the transverse fiange of the member 12 and is adapted to holdthe spacer bars within the periphery of the longitudinal leg of themember 12 against displacement.

It will, therefore, be apparent that any tube may be quickly and easilyremoved from the apparatus without removing the nest of tubes from theshell. The head and cap are first removed, then the spacer bars areremoved, thereby permitting the tubes to be spread or moved horizontallyat the bent end. Any tube may be disconnected from the plate 16. If thetubes have been fastened in place by expanding in plate 16, then, ofcourse, the tube to be removed must be relieved at the head end topermit the removal by endwise movement. However, the important object isto spread the tubes so that any of the inner tubes may be withdrawnafter loosening of the free ends of the tube. The upright spacing bars22 keep the tubes 2O properly spaced in the horizontal direction and arenext to the flange joint of the head 13 so that when the head is removedthese spacing bars 22 can be partially or wholly removed withoutdisturbing the horizontal supporting bars 21. When these spacing bars 22are removed the U ends of tubes can-be moved horizontally as may bedesired to permit removal of any of the inner tubes. The tubes are ofrelatively great ratios of length to diameter and the horizontalspringing of the U end of outer tubes sufficient for withdrawal of innertubes does not require forces of any magnitude being exerted and doesnot affect the integrity of the connection of the straight end of tubeto tube sheet. Fig. 5 shows in plan view groups of outer U tubes 20a and20bsprung aside to permit removal of an inner tube 20c/which is shownpartly withdrawn. Fig. 6 is an end view of the nest also showing outertubes 20a and 20h-sprung apart to clear withdrawal of inner tube 20c. t

Itv will be understood that various modifications may be made in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts of the describedapparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it isnot desired to limit the invention to such details except asparticularly pointed out in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a heat exchange apparatus having a shelly A mentioned direction.A

and a plurality of tubes contained therein and having a fixed support atone end of the shell for one end of the tubes, a support for the otherend of the tubes comprising fixed members and removable members, saidfixed members adapted to retainsaid tubes in alinement in one directionand said removable member adapted to retain said tubes in a directiontransverse to said first a direction transverse to said first mentioneddirection andarranged ina plane parallel to and adjacent the lastmentioned plane.

3. In a heat exchange apparatus having a. shell and a plurality of tubescontained therein and having a fixed support at one end of the shell forthe free end of the tubes, a support for the other end of the tubesadapted to lie the shell comprising fixed members and removable members,said xed members adapted to retain said tubes in alinement in onedirection and arranged in a plane transverse to said shell, and saidremovable members adapted to retain said' tubes in a directiontransverse to said first mentioned direction and arranged in a planeparallel to and adjacent the last mentioned plane, said removablemembers being remote of the first mentioned fixed support.

4. In a heat exchange apparatus having a shell and a plurality of shapedtubes contained therein and having a fixed support at one end of theshell for the free ends of the tubes, said tubes arranged in'parallelplanes and being nested in each plane, a support for the otherend of thetubes to retain the legs of the tubes parallel, said support beingarranged to permit movement 01.120 the U ends of the tubes transverselyto their planes.

5. In a heat, exchange apparatus having a shell and a plurality of Ushaped tubes contained therein and having a fixed support at one en d ofthe shell for the free ends of the tubes, said bes arranged in parallelplanes and being nest in each plane, a support for the other end of thetubes to retain the legs of the tubes parallel, said support havingremovable members permitting the U ends of the .tubes to be movedtransversely to their planes, and a cap adapted to be secured to theshell and adapted to retain said means.

6.' In a heat exchange apparatus the combination with a shell having aheader at one end, of a plurality of U shaped tubes of different lengthsnested within said shell and having their free ends in said header,means for holding the other ends of said tubes having supportingsurfaces for l said tubes maintaining them in alinement while permittingthem to move endwise and in a direction transverse to their planes, andreleasable positioning means normally retaining said tubes against saidtransverse movement and arranged to allow said movement so that thetubes may be relatively transversely flexed to permit Vendwise removalof inner .shorter tubes without removing A longer outer tubes in thesame planes.

JOHN F. METTEN.

